Student Perspectives of Access to Surgery Under General Anaesthetic in the Undergraduate Dental Curriculum

Michaelina Macluskey (Lead / Corresponding author), Angela Anderson, Peter McAllister, Simon Shepherd

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Delivering dental graduates who are competent to carry out extractions and surgical extractions can be challenging. Access to general anaesthetic (GA) operating provides an opportunity not only for hands-on experience but also to reinforce teaching in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The aim of this study was to determine what our final year students’ perceptions were of exposure to GA operating lists.

Materials and Methods: This was a mixed-methods prospective study involving an anonymous online questionnaire followed by a focus group. All final year students (n=60) were invited to participate by email at the end of the academic year and involvement in the focus group was voluntary. Information collected included the type of surgery observed, clinical experience gained and their impression of the experience and whether it influenced career aspirations.

Results: Forty-one students completed the questionnaire (68%) and 10 students participated in the focus group (17%). All students observed treatment under GA and 38 (93%) treated cases under GA. Thirty-nine (95%) students attended an oral surgery list and 33 (80.5%) attended an OMFS list. Most students carried out deciduous extractions (78%) and 15% carried out dentoalveolar surgery. Treatment observed was primarily oncological (70%) and dentoalveolar cases (54%). Access to GA was well received by the students who felt it provided improved teaching opportunities and helped to conceptualise the didactic teaching on the subject and place their dentistry within a wider healthcare context. Some students indicated a desire to pursue a career in oral surgery (37%) or OMFS (10%).

Conclusion: The results presented here are indicative that students appreciate the learning opportunity afforded by the GA experience and our recommendation would be to perpetuate access to GA lists and the associated surgical exposure.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages7
JournalOral Surgery
Early online date26 Nov 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 26 Nov 2024

Keywords

  • dental
  • students
  • general anaesthetic
  • extractions
  • oral surgery
  • maxillofacial

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Oral Surgery

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Student Perspectives of Access to Surgery Under General Anaesthetic in the Undergraduate Dental Curriculum'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this